Original article (in Slovenian) was published on 10/12/2024; Author: Žan Premrov
The National Institute of Public Health has explained that two students from Prebold were admitted to emergency care due to dehydration. Vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis cannot cause such a reaction, according to a paediatrician.
A Facebook user claimed on 13 November that three children from the fourth grade of the Prebold Primary School were taken to hospital within an hour of receiving their tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis jab. By the time of publication, almost 300 Facebook users had shared the post.
The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) explained to Razkrinkavanje.si that two students fainted when they returned to school after being vaccinated in a Prebold outpatient clinic. “Both of them quickly recovered and were referred, as a precaution, to the emergency centre of the Celje Hospital, where they were found to have been dehydrated.”
The reason why the students were taken to Celje is because the Prebold doctor was treating another patient at the time, they added. Both students were discharged into home care the same day.
The Prebold Primary School confirmed the NIJZ’s explanations and added that they had been involved in preparing the statement. The Prebold Outpatient Clinic for Children and Adolescents did not respond to our questions.
Denis Baš, a paediatrician, explained to Razkrinkavanje.si that vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis “cannot cause dehydration”. The most common side effect of this shot is pain or swelling at the injection site. Fever, headache or muscle aches are also possible, he said. However, more serious side effects, such as allergic reactions, are rare and occur in one in a million vaccinated people.
We have shared our findings with the Facebook user. We will publish her response when we receive it.
The claim that three children from the fourth grade of Prebold Primary School were taken to hospital within one hour of receiving the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine is not true.
